IAS - Mission and HistoryInstitute for Advanced StudyIAS_e95a31d0-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b857The Institute for Advanced Study is one of the world’s leading centers for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. The Institute exists to encourage and support curiosity-driven research in the sciences and humanities – the original, often speculative thinking that produces advances in knowledge that change the way we understand the world. It provides for the mentoring of scholars by Faculty, and it ensures there the freedom to undertake research that will make significant contributions in any of the broad range of fields in the sciences and humanities studied at the Institute.Louis BambergerThe Institute is a private, independent academic institution located in Princeton, New Jersey. It was founded in 1930 by philanthropists Louis Bamberger and his sister Caroline Bamberger Fuld, and established through the vision of founding Director Abraham Flexner. Caroline Bamberger FuldAbraham Flexnerfounding Director Robbert DijkgraafDirector and Leon Levy ProfessorAlbert EinsteinPast Faculty have included Albert Einstein, who remained at the Institute until his death in 1955, and distinguished scientists and scholars such as Kurt Gödel, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Erwin Panofsky, Hetty Goldman, Homer A. Thompson, John von Neumann, George Kennan, Hermann Weyl, and Clifford Geertz.Kurt GödelJ. Robert OppenheimerErwin PanofskyHetty GoldmanHomer A. ThompsonJohn von NeumannGeorge KennanHermann WeylClifford GeertzPrinceton UniversityThe Institute has no formal links to other educational institutions. However, since its founding, it has enjoyed close, collaborative ties with Princeton University and other nearby institutions. Advances in knowledge that change the way we understand the world_e95a465c-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b857To encourage and support curiosity-driven research in the sciences and humanities_e95a465d-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b857Theoretical ResearchIntellectual InquiryCuriosity-Driven Researchin the sciences and humanities – the original, often speculative thinking that produces advances in knowledge that change the way we understand the world.MentoringResearch Freedomthe freedom to undertake research that will make significant contributions in any of the broad range of fields in the sciences and humanities studied at the Institute.Natural BeautyThe abundant natural beauty of the Institute’s 800-acre site, including the Institute Woods, farm fields, and wetlands, form a key link in a network of green spaces in central New Jersey. These lands, the majority of which have been permanently conserved, provide a tranquil environment for Institute scholars and members of the community.Green SpacesTranquilityHistorical StudiesSupport all learning for which historical methods are appropriate_e95a465e-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b8571School of Historical StudiesThe School of Historical Studies was established in 1949 with the merging of the School of Economics and Politics and the School of Humanistic Studies. It bears no resemblance to a traditional academic history department, but rather supports all learning for which historical methods are appropriate. The School embraces a historical approach to research throughout the humanistic disciplines, from socioeconomic developments, political theory, and modern international relations, to the history of art, science, philosophy, music, and literature. In geographical terms, the School concentrates primarily on the history of Western, Near Eastern, and Far Eastern civilizations, with emphasis on Greek and Roman civilization, the history of Europe (medieval, early modern, and modern), the Islamic world, and East Asia. Support has been extended to the history of other regions, including Central Asia, India, and Africa.Historical EnterprisesPromote interdisciplinary research and cross-fertilization of ideas._e95a465f-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b8571.1The Faculty and Members of the School do not adhere to any one point of view but practice a range of methods of inquiry and scholarly styles, both traditional and innovative. Uniquely positioned to sponsor work that crosses conventional departmental and professional boundaries, the School actively promotes interdisciplinary research and cross-fertilization of ideas. It thereby encourages the creation of new historical enterprises.Historical ResearchSupport scholarship in all fields of historical research._e95a46ac-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b8571.2The School of Historical Studies supports scholarship in all fields of historical research, but it is concerned principally with the following: Greek and Roman civilizations, Medieval Europe, Modern Europe, The Islamic World, Philosophy and International Relations, History of Art, East Asian Studies.Mathmatics[Conduct] research and postdoctoral training in many diverse aspects of mathematics._e95a4788-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b8572School of MathematicsThe School of Mathematics is an international center of research and postdoctoral training in many diverse aspects of mathematics including pure mathematics, theoretical computer science, mathematical physics and applied mathematics._e95a483c-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b857Natural SciencesWorking on frontier topics in astrophysics, biology, mathematical physics, quantum field theory, particle phenomenology, string theory and quantum gravity_e95a4c74-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b8573School of Natural SciencesThe School of Natural Sciences includes nine permanent faculty and approximately fifty postdoctoral men and women working full time on frontier topics in astrophysics, biology, mathematical physics, quantum field theory, particle phenomenology, string theory and quantum gravity._e95a4d5a-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b857Social ScienceAnalyze societies and social change._e95a548a-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b8574School of Social ScienceFounded in 1973, the School of Social Science takes as its mission the analysis of societies and social change, and is devoted to a multi-disciplinary, comparative and international approach to social research. Each year, the School of Social Science invites about 20 visiting scholars with various perspectives to examine historical and contemporary problems, providing a space for intellectual debate and cross-fertilization to flourish. Scholars are drawn from a wide range of fields including political science, economics, law, psychology, anthropology, history, philosophy, and literary criticism. Members pursue their own research, and participate in a weekly seminar at which each has an opportunity to present on-going work._e95a555c-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b857Special Programs[Conduct] special programs_e95a587c-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b8575In addition to the main work taking place in the four Schools, there are also several special programs: the Institute/Park City Mathematics Institute is an innovative program that integrates mathematics educators, researchers and students; the Program in Interdisciplinary Studies draws together visitors from a variety of fields including astrophysics, computer science, psychology, and philosophy; the Program for Women and Mathematics, a mentoring program sponsored jointly with Princeton University, encourages women to pursue careers in mathematics; and the Science Initiative Group (SIG), an international team of scientific leaders and supporters dedicated to fostering science in developing countries. The Institute also has an Artist-in-Residence program that provides an annual series of concerts and lectures for the Institute and broader community.Math IntegrationIntegrate mathematics educators, researchers and students_e95a594e-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b8575.1Mathematics EducatorsMathematics ResearchersMathematics StudentsInterdisciplinary StudiesDraw together visitors from a variety of fields including astrophysics, computer science, psychology, and philosophy_e95a5a2a-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b8575.2Women & MathematicsConduct a mentoring program, sponsored jointly with Princeton University, encouraging women to pursue careers in mathematics_e95a5ade-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b8575.3WomenPrinceton UniversityScience InitiativeFoster science in developing countries. _e95a5bb0-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b8575.4Science Initiative Group(SIG) an international team of scientific leaders and supportersDeveloping CountriesConcerts & LecturesProvide an annual series of concerts and lectures for the Institute and broader community._e95a5f34-d7ed-11e3-bb26-380f0ff3b8575.52014-05-09http://www.ias.edu/about/mission-and-historyOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net